Target Center Minneapolis Tickets

Target Center events at Minnesota's Gym

Target Center is the home court of the NBA's Minnesota Timberwolves and the WNBA's Minnesota Lynx, a four-time league champion. Billed as "Minnesota's Gym", the arena has a basketball story that reaches beyond the pros. Minnesota State High School League tournaments and thousands of young players have shaped it too. It was also selected to host the 2018 NCAA Division I Women's Volleyball National Championship, presented as the first major event to showcase its 2017 upgrades.

When the building reopened in 2017, the Timberwolves reported that most of its events were not Wolves games. Major concerts, family shows and private events fill out the calendar.

A downtown landmark since 1990

In August 1990, the Timberwolves and Target Stores announced the name of the team's new downtown arena. Target Center opened on October 13, 1990, with a ceremonial "Jump Ball" whose proceeds benefited the American Cancer Society. Three days later the Wolves played the building's first game, an exhibition against the Philadelphia 76ers. On November 2 they opened the 1990-91 regular season here, beating Dallas before a sellout crowd.

Target has been the naming rights partner ever since. At the arena's 25th anniversary in 2015, it was the longest-running naming rights deal in American professional sports.

Mayor Betsy Hodges said in 2015 that the arena, built in a blighted part of downtown, had helped create one of the country's liveliest entertainment districts. Its first 25 years also brought legendary artists such as Garth Brooks and U2. The City of Minneapolis owns the building, and Legends Global manages it privately.

Renovated rather than replaced

Rather than build a replacement, the Timberwolves and Lynx, the City of Minneapolis and AEG Facilities renovated Target Center as a joint venture. In 2015, general manager Steve Mattson said that renovating instead of replacing preserved the legacy of the teams, acts and shows that had played there.

In 2014, a city council committee approved Architectural Alliance and Sink Combs Dethlefs as the architecture and engineering team. Their initial concepts aimed to ease movement into, out of and around the building. They also aimed to make it more transparent, giving guests views of downtown while letting passers-by see the activity inside.

After 18 months of work, a ribbon cutting reopened the arena on October 12, 2017. The Timberwolves said renovating cost far less than building new and added 20 years to the arena's useful life.

Inside the bowl and premium level

Concourse and bowl work brought new seats, a new scoreboard, an upgraded sound system and digital signage. The 2017 reopening also introduced new premium spaces:

• Chairman's Club
• Lexus Courtside Club
• TCL Theater Boxes
• Club T.I.

At the same time, the entire premium level was rebranded as the Treasure Island Resort & Casino Premium Level.

Getting there

Target Center stands at 600 First Avenue North, in downtown Minneapolis's sports and entertainment district. The arena has its own skyway, which thousands of people used daily at the time of the 2017 reopening.